After almost two weeks of extremely poor air quality as a result of the devastating Camp Fire in Butte County, the rain forecasted to improve air quality throughout the Bay Area has arrived.

Sadly, given climate change, the likelihood is very high that California will continue to face wildfires of similar magnitude. My leadership team will use this opportunity to review our response, with the goal of improving how we manage events like this in the future.

Firefighters, first responders, and volunteers involved in the wildfires in Northern and Southern California have exhibited immense heroism, strength, and compassion. I know that you join me in deep gratitude for their unselfish sacrifice and hope that they soon get the relief they need.

Our hearts go out to those whose loved ones have died or are among the missing, as well as to the tens of thousands displaced from their homes. Long after the last ember is extinguished, their needs will continue to be great. It will take months, if not years, to transform neighborhoods from the blackened and smoldering landscape to communities where residents can recover and rebuild.

I appreciate that many of you who are able will volunteer your time and expertise to assist the scores of people who need help. Donations to agencies such as the American Red Cross or the ...

As you know, much of our state has been severely affected by the historic wildfires that continue to rage in several areas. The toll on families and friends who lost loved ones, their homes, and businesses is heartbreaking.

It is clearly evident that our region has been impacted by unprecedented poor air quality for the past week. We know that concerns about air quality have led many university and school officials in our region to decide to cancel classes and close their doors tomorrow as a means of minimizing student exposures to outdoor air.

After consultation with my leadership team and close review of regional outdoor air data, UCSF will remain open tomorrow. As a health sciences and graduate-level university, this institution is dedicated to a mission of serving our patients and advancing health through discovery and education. This mission is perhaps most important during times of regional health crises.

We know based on scientific evidence and guidance from government health agencies that the best place to be when pollutants fill the air is inside buildings with filtered air systems. The agencies’ advice is to limit outdoor exposure.

Since the fires began in Butte County last Thursday, we have carefully monitored the air quality in the Bay Area and at our campus locations. We continue to make our supply of N95 respirators available upon request to our most vulnerable patients and our employees who must work outdoors. We have also taken extra steps to ensure the air filtration systems in our buildings are working as effectively as possible.

For those of you who may find it difficult to come to work due to school...

We write today to thank you for your hard work throughout the year and to invite you to attend a staff appreciation holiday breakfast on one of the dates listed below*. These events provide us and other university leaders an opportunity to thank you in person for your contributions.

We are deeply saddened by the widespread devastation of the ongoing fires in Northern and Southern California. The Camp Fire in Butte County has claimed many precious lives and is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. The Woolsey Fire, in Ventura County, is being called one of the largest fires to strike Los Angeles in more than 100 years.

We continue to monitor the fire situation throughout the state. Due to heavy smoke in the Bay Area from the Camp Fire, we urge you to monitor the air quality of your own community on the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow site.

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by these fast-moving wildfires, especially to those who have lost loved ones, as well as the hundreds of thousands who have been displaced. We also are grateful for the tireless efforts of the thousands of hard-working firefighters, first responders, and volunteers.

I am heartened by the interest and response of the UCSF community to offer assistance. Over the weekend, School of Nursing clinicians answered an urgent need for licensed health care providers to assist in the evacuation sites through Caring Choices, a nonprofit agency that is assisting with rapid credentialing and background checks to help distribute health care workers where they are most needed. Volunteer clinicians may also go to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority to be credentialed as an official emergency responder.

Yesterday ended with yet another sad, painful, and disturbing tragedy when a gunman opened fire in a bar crowded with college students in Thousand Oaks, California. We learned this morning about the impact and loss of at least 13 lives, including a Ventura County sheriff sergeant and the shooter.

Here at UCSF, we prepare for responding to active shooter situations and offer training in defense skills to UCSF faculty, staff, students, and trainees to use if confronted with similar circumstances. For more information, please go to the UCSF Police Department website.

As guardians of health, we know all too well that gun violence is a public health crisis. Our experience equips us to be effective advocates for the safety of our patients and the communities we serve. Together, our advocacy efforts could result in lifting what amounts to a federal ban on funding research on gun violence.

Please also remember that UCSF provides members of our community access to professional counseling and confidential services in times of sorrow:

I am writing to notify the UCSF Community about Assembly Bill 21 (2017) (AB 21): Access to Higher Education for Every Student and the procedure in regard to possible immigration enforcement at UCSF locations. While AB 21 is fairly recent, it has long been a goal at UCSF to foster a university environment that is safe and welcoming for all members of our community regardless of immigration status.

It is important to note that federal immigration agencies can and do enter campuses for non-enforcement activities, which can include recruitment and activities related to normal immigration visa processing. The procedure and information below relate only to immigration enforcement activities.

Notify the Office of Legal Affairs as soon as possible if you are advised that an immigration officer is expected to enter, will...